The information for this article was sourced from an opinion piece by Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager - Tasmania, Engineers Australia, originally published by The Mercury on 6 February, 2016.

Engineers Australia’s report Energy Security for Australia highlighted the county’s current energy security flaws and the need to build a future-focused energy insurance policy.

This is no more relevant right now than in the state of Tasmania says Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager – Tasmania, Engineers Australia. Tasmania needs “an energy security policy that includes medium to long term planning that allows for cyclic climate patterns”, says Dr Gardiner.

“We [now] have the perfect storm to challenge the state’s energy security, with falling dam levels, very low rainfall and the Basslink failure.

Dr Gardiner also mentioned that the ongoing bushfires could “adversely affect energy security… due to the damaged infrastructure”.

Energy security requires a whole-of-government approach as it can impact other policies affecting the community, such as population and economics, explains Dr Gardiner.

The establishment of the Tasmanian Government's Cabinet subcommittee on energy security is a crucial step in the eyes of Dr Gardiner. This will ensure a focus on the medium and long term planning of Tasmania’s energy security. She hopes to see significant recommendations from the subcommittee, chaired by the Hon. Matthew Groom MP, Minister for Energy, including those policy interdependencies linked to energy security.

Upon reflecting on the State’s expertise in low-emission renewable energy, and the opportunity to strengthen this reputation (and further influence Australia’s energy security policies), Dr Gardiner proposes:

• Tasmania needs “a long term plan to assess and implement low-emission energy generating options that can supplement the State’s hydro-electricity generating capacity”. Some examples of this technology include wind, solar, tidal/wave, or biomass generated energy.
   
• An economic environment that encourages new innovations in energy generation, and a system in place to allow these new technologies to be integrated into the network.
   
• And finally, the Tasmanian community needs to work together on increasing consumer education about minimising energy consumption and demand.

Dr Gardiner believes there is a great opportunity for Tasmania to not only secure its energy for the future, but to become world leaders in diversifying energy generation, using sustainable, alternative energies.